An Overabundance Of Attentiveness

I go with my parents to a restaurant. It’s not super busy, and the food is delicious, so we enjoy our meal.

Server #1: “Is everything in order?”

All Three Of Us: “Yes, it’s delicious, thank you.”

About seven minutes later:

Server #2: “Good evening. Is everything in order?”

All Three Of Us: “Sure, it’s great.”

In the Netherlands, servers don’t usually get a certain section and just go where they are needed. And about ten minutes later:

Server #3: “Hello. Is everything to your liking?”

We look at each other but answer:

All Three Of Us: “Yes, thank you.”

When the server has left, we start grinning.

Mom: “How many more times will they ask?”

Me: “Did we already have all the servers ask us?”

Dad: “No, that man over there and that girl over there haven’t stopped by yet.”

Mom: “Will they? Surely they saw the others; it’s not that busy.”

Me: “Maybe that’s the reason. But my guess is that girl is next and we’ll finish off with that man.”

Dad: “Deal!”

And yes, not much later:

Female Server: “How are you doing tonight? Is all well?”

All Three Of Us: “Yes, thank you!”

And, after only five more minutes:

Male Server: “And how are we doing tonight? Is all to your liking?”

Me: “Called it!”

My parents started laughing, and I explained to the confused server. I also emphasized that we didn’t mind and thought it was funny. The servers did leave us alone after that… or so we thought.

When we got the tab, they neatly lined up and said, united:

Servers: “We hope it was to your liking!”

Tipping is not common in the Netherlands, and we didn’t have much change on us, but we made sure each and every server got a little extra.

Dinner and a show — what a lovely surprise!